Mapping microfinance research to sustainable development goals: Insights from Scientometrics and BERTopic analysis

Debidutta Pattnaik and M. Kabir Hassan

Journal of Economic Surveys, 2025, vol. 39, issue 4, 1630-1676

Abstract: Microfinance research plays a pivotal role in addressing global development challenges, yet comprehensive assessments of its alignment with sustainable development goals (SDGs) remain scarce. This study fills this gap by systematically mapping the landscape of microfinance literature to its corresponding SDG contributions. Leveraging data from Scopus and SCIval, we analyzed 1004 microfinance articles spanning between 2014 and 2023. Our findings reveal a substantial body of research focused on poverty alleviation (SDG 1) and economic empowerment (SDG 8), with notable attention to gender equality (SDG 5) and reduced inequalities (SDG 10). Key thematic clusters include the performance and impact of microfinance institutions (MFIs), microinsurance innovations, and Islamic microfinance. Notably, top‐cited articles underscored the sector's commitment to poverty alleviation and economic growth, with a nuanced exploration of gender dynamics and rural household impacts. Furthermore, our BERTopic analysis unveils the multidimensional nature of microfinance research, highlighting prevalent themes such as MFI performance and rural household impact. Geographically, research efforts are concentrated in the United States, India, and France, reflecting a global commitment to SDG‐aligned microfinance interventions. The paper's theoretical contributions lie in its framework development, interdisciplinary engagement, nuanced understanding of microfinance themes, global perspective, and methodological advancements, all of which enhance the scholarly discourse on microfinance's role in achieving SDGs.

Date: 2025
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